Kyocera and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation announced a joint venture, Kyocera TCL Solar LLC, which will develop and operate a 13.4-MW floating solar power plant on the Yamakura Dam reservoir in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The plant will become the largest floating solar installation in the world.

Kyocera TCL Solar was selected by the Public Enterprises Agency of Chiba Prefecture to undertake the floating solar power project. The company aims to begin operations in March 2016 after negotiating with related parties including Tokyo Electric Power Company. When operating, the project will generate an estimated 15,635 MWh per year.

“Since 1970s, we have been working to make solar energy use more ubiquitous in society, and have expanded our business to residential, commercial and utility-scale solar applications,” stated Nobuo Kitamura, senior executive officer and general manager of the Corporate Solar Energy Group at Kyocera. “We are excited to work with our partners on this project, taking another step forward by utilizing untapped bodies of water as solar power generation sites.”

Under the plan, Kyocera TCL Solar will build and operate the installation, and Century Tokyo Leasing will provide project financing. The Kyocera Group will be responsible for the supply of solar modules and related equipment in addition to construction, operation and maintenance. The modules will be installed on floating platforms manufactured by Ciel et Terre, which is also supplying the platforms for a floating solar power plant project in Hyogo Prefecture currently being constructed by Kyocera TCL Solar.